The site, bordered by a wooded area to the north and a protected Classified Wooded Area to the south, offers a particularly sheltered plot core and an exceptional forested environment.

A gently sloping terrain, with access from the lower part of the plot and development positioned at the top of the hill, opens up commanding views over the valley and, in the distance, the Sainte-Victoire mountain range. The clearing carved out of the forest creates a green enclave, establishing a privileged setting at the heart of a protected wooded area. The project’s main façade, surrounded by a preserved natural environment, is intended to become the emblematic image of the headquarters of a major international company.

Set against the hillside, oriented predominantly to the north along its longest façade, and sloping from south to north, the site’s configuration imposes specific constraints that strongly guide the design principles:
- minimizing the length of the west-facing façade;
- protecting the south façade by backing it onto the wooded area;
- opening the north façade widely to provide generous natural daylight to the office floor plates;
- sheltering outdoor spaces from prevailing winds while preserving existing natural areas;
- ensuring natural ventilation of workspaces and circulation areas.

All of these elements contribute to embedding the building within its context. The building is composed through stratification and superposition: the dynamic line of the ground floor anchors the structure firmly in its natural setting and emphasizes its perspective. Above, a rational and structured volume is articulated to reveal three distinct volumes. Like carved planes, the northern gable ends frame and direct views toward the landscape.

Environmental quality:
The challenge lies in working with the site’s assets and constraints to create high-quality interior and exterior spaces. The building’s compact volume, punctuated by two patios and fragmented along the long façades, limits the extent of exposed façades—particularly those most critical in terms of overheating and user comfort. Its placement along the forest edge ensures thermal control and balance. The west and south façades are protected by external solar shading devices, optimizing heat gains and losses. Vegetation plays a key regulatory role.

From an environmental performance perspective, the building has achieved HQE certification at the Excellent level in both design and construction phases, with RT2012 performance targets of Bbio –40% and Cep –28%.